Its really played a big toll on me, Michael said on the stand. But deep down were sure she is sorry. Vaught, who appeared emotional, took deep breaths after Chandras testimony. The packages for Epinephrine 1:1000 and Epinephrine 1:10,000 look very similar and were stored side by side. Dear Marty, I'm a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. Nurses should also avoid rushing and "cutting corners" as it could result in an accidental exposure. But in her 2010 review, Rea raised the possibility that Kim might care too much. RegisteredNursing.org does not guarantee the accuracy or results of any of this information. Shes a 21-year-old college student who remembers tagging along with her mom to visit the hospital when she was younger. Kim wrote the state investigators a lengthy statement about why she hoped to keep her credentials. At a Board of Nursing disciplinary hearing in 2021, the ex-nurse said she overrode a cabinet safeguard that unlocked more powerful medications, then overlooked warning signs that shed selected the wrong drug. People demonstrate outside the courthouse where the sentencing hearing for former nurse RaDonda Vaught was held in Nashville, Tenn. Subscribe now. The Smith family originally filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February against the hospital's parent company and the pharmacist, but they recently amended their complaint to include the nurse and the hospital. When nurses are fatigued or have many tasks occupying their attention, that's when safety checks are most important, she adds. I calculated the . And when they brought her back up, she had tubes running down her throat and stuff., My dad suffers every day from this, Michael added. Seattle Childrens Hospital fired Kim shortly afterward. The criminal case of RaDonda Vaughta 38-year-old former registered nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Centerbecame a cause clbre for those in her profession. The actual work of building one of these hotlinessecuring a phone number, finding volunteers, advertising the resourceis not a massive lift. Ever since Marc Smith was a boy, "My mother and father had taken in a countless number of children who were in bad situations at home or didn't have place to stay," he said. But on Friday, after an hours-long hearing, Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Smith ruled that Vaught qualified for judicial diversion. Inside the courthouse, Vaught came face to face with the loved ones of her victim: 75-year-old Charlene Murphey, who died in late December 2017 at Vanderbilt. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. So I quit. RaDonda Vaught, 38, was convicted by a jury Friday of criminal negligent homicide and gross neglect of an impaired adult after a three-day trial in Nashville closely watched by medical professionals, The Tennessean reported. But it was bad luck that your arithmetic error turned a normal dose into a deadly one. Some are voicing concern that the move sets a precedent that may actually make hospitals less safe by making people hesitant to report errors. When the Institute of Medicine now known as the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine put out a major 1999 report titled To Err Is Human, Manges says, it became the norm to focus less on punishment and more on learning from mistakes. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. The Nashville District Attorney's office told the Tennessean it made the decision to bring criminal charges against Vaught specifically because she administered the fatal medication after overriding the safety mechanism in the dispensing machine. During Fridays hearing, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent Ramona Smith, who interviewed Vaught after Murpheys death, testified that the nurse didnt seem remorseful about what happened. One 2009 study found that two thirds reported extreme sadness and difficulty concentrating. More than half experienced depression; one third said they avoided caring for similar patients afterward, for fear of making a similar mistake. Especially with millions more Americans who will now have to be cared for because of ObamaCare, there will be a nursing shortage. A very simple, easy-to-make mistake cost a patient his life. But on Friday, after an hours-long hearing, Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Smith ruled that Vaught qualified for judicial diversion. A hospital janitor accidentally causes several deaths by unplugging patients' life-support systems. Lyn remembers when Kim called her on the way home from the second day of class. This is something that should never happen, not even for a seasoned nurse. The former nurses sentences are likely to run concurrently, a Davidson County District Attorneys Office spokesman told NPR. After the verdict, the American Nurses Association and Tennessee Nurses Association issued a statement that read, We are deeply distressed by this verdict and the harmful ramifications of criminalizing the honest reporting of mistakes., The nursing profession is already extremely short-staffed, strained and facing immense pressurean unfortunate multi-year trend that was further exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic, the statement added. Its hard to justify in your budget. I calculated the wrong dose and he died. This is only if it is known where the exposure came from. Im a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. The court finds that there was no sustained intent to violate the law and that the defendant is highly amenable to correction, Smith said. Vaught and her attorney had claimed she was being wrongly blamed after Vanderbilt became the subject of a surprise inspection by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A jury . In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children. He moved the family from West Virginia to Seattle for his residency at the University of Washington when Kim was a few months old. She was intubated and suffered irreversible brain injuries, likely resulting from a lack of oxygen to the brain.. Thats all anyone can do. During the hearing, Vaught admitted to making a mistake but. I was at work when all this took place, and I didnt get to say bye to my mom. [They] view themselves as being victimized by the health-care system. For more information on what to do following an exposure, please visit the CDC website. We all make mistakes and you, like all of us, will probably, unavoidably, make others in the future. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. ", Prior to the accident, Marc Smith said his father lived independently with his wife. This approach to preventing errors is well-accepted in the medical and nursing communities, which makes a criminal case like Vaught's all the more surprising, says Kirstin Manges, a nurse and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who studies patient safety. In May 1989, Dr. Wu mailed a survey to 254 residents training at major hospitals in the United States about whether theyd made medical errors and, if so, how they coped. The Washington State Department of Healths investigation of the incident took about five months. She was acquitted of reckless homicide. She calls Vaught's case "unprecedented" because neither of these factors are cited in the CMS report. That poor patient. But deep down were sure she is sorry. Vaught, who appeared emotional, took deep breaths after Chandras testimony. I hope that they are also just as relieved to be moving away from this process that has been held up in the legal system for four and a half years.. Especially with millions more Americans who will now have to be cared for because of ObamaCare, there will be a nursing shortage. In March, a jury found Vaught guilty of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide after a three-day trial. He remained in a vegetative state until he died a month later. All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. Seattle Childrens Hospital says it made policy changes in the wake of Kims death. Vaught was ordered to collect the Versed from a computerized medication cabinet but grabbed vecuronium instead, leading to Murphey becoming brain dead. Kims mistake was an unnecessary tragedy. The groups founder said what happened to Vaught couldve happened to anyone in such a demanding job. One of the moms of a former patient talked about how Kim cared for her daughter when she had a transplant, how she made it a fun time for her, she said. Nurses can reduce their risk by following safety measures and using needleless systems (when possible) and activating the safety device on sharps. What projects have you done related to STEM? There were multiple chances for RaDonda Vaught to just pay attention.. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. Albert Wu, MD, began studying medical errors in the late 1980s, as a newly minted medical school graduate. 2023 Registered Nursing.org All Rights Reserved | About | Privacy | Terms | Contact Us. It killed him. She told NPR in an emailed statement from her lawyer that Vanderbilt terminated her employment after the incident. About 500 people attended Kims memorial service on April 10, 2011, at the University of Washingtons leafy arboretum. A former Texas nurse was sentenced to death this week for injecting air into the arteries of four patients recovering from heart surgery, causing fatal brain damage, a court official said. Daughter-in-law Chandra Murphey, who is married to Michael, testified that her family hasnt had peace or closure for four years and the situation has just been sickening to us. Chandra said, We did so much together as a family, and it just ended, in a split second for us., Speaking on behalf of my father in law he cries every day. Marty Nemko's bio is in Wikipedia. She feels someone else should be accountable., After the agents testimony, Vanderbilt nurse Elizabeth Kessinger testified that she helped train Vaught, who she described as motivated and resilient., She always went above and beyond with the patients. Get adequately skilled, then do your best, and when you make a mistake, learn from it, forgive yourself, and keep trying to be the best you can be. Dear Marty, I'm a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. The hospital did, however, issue a statement to WPLG, saying: "Our hearts go out to the Smith family for their loss. DA spokesman Stephen Hayslip told NPR in an email that "the actions of this office will become more evident as the evidence is presented to the court." RELATED: Accident/Error and Incident Prevention: NCLEX-RN. The criminal case of RaDonda Vaughta 38-year-old former registered nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Centerbecame a cause clbre for those in her profession. hide caption. Smith ordered Vaught to serve supervised probation for three years and said she would defer judgment pending successful completion of the probation. Murphy entered the hospital because . In addition, the hospital has since removed pancuronium from all nursing areas except for the operation room, where the medication will only be handled by anesthesiologists. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Kim said she would stay home and do laundry. Michael said that knowing his mother, who was a forgiving person, she wouldnt want to see Vaught serve significant jail time. The report details how Vaught mistakenly took the wrong medicine out of a dispensing cabinet. This situation will never be repeated by Ms. Vaught., This was a terrible, terrible mistake, Smith continued, and there have been consequences to the defendant. Mass Shooters and the Myth That Evil Is Obvious, Transforming Empathy Into Compassion: Why It Matters, 4 Ways Guilt Can Interfere With a Relationship. His father, however, thinks she should receive the maximum sentence. Does a Dog's Head Shape Predict How Smart It Is? (Vaughts lawyer pointed out the former nurse did express remorse publicly, but Chandra clarified not directly to her family. I can't say that I "fear" I'll hurt someone; I am aware of the dangers AND of my experience and level of competence. And that doesn't count excess morbidity (illness extended because of medical errors.). Sign up now. What happens if a doctor date a patient? She was good at her job, and she knew it.. Ologboride, who could not be reached by ABCNews.com, has been retrained, and fined, according to ABC News Miami affiliate WPLG. All health care mistakes even small ones should be analyzed to understand the underlying issues that caused them, Ross says. Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Programs (AGNP), Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Programs, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), average of 385,000 sharps-related injuries, Accident/Error and Incident Prevention: NCLEX-RN. 3 This ruling will have a long-lasting negative impact on the profession.. In each installment of this daily series, I respond to a composite letter that asks for my career advice. And if youre bad at math, get a tutor or take a course on the sort of math you need as an RN, including improving your skills in estimation---so even if you calculate wrong, youll know you made an error before administering the medication to a patient. There is real resistance in places, says Dr. Wu. In March, a jury found Vaught guilty of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide after a three-day trial. Subsequent blood work (for at least six months) to monitor conversion status may also be indicated. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. And many in the patient safety community say they don't understand what prompted the DA's office to prosecute this case in particular. Did the dog survive? Everyone makes errors. She specialized in taking care of children who were dying and helping their families with the bereavement process. In each installment of this daily series, I respond to a composite letter that asks for my career advice. "Nurses aren't superheroes. The district attorney's decision to charge Vaught comes after both the Tennessee Department of Health and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services investigated the incident. But it also presents a drawback; its hard to study whether the peer support makes any difference when the program cant identify whom it has supported. There would be an investigation by the hospital. She is accused of killing Charlene Murphey, who received the wrong medication and became unable to breathe in 2017. Nothing thats harmed a patient, of course, but I have mismatched records and stuff like that. ), When Vaught took the podium, she began by apologizing to the Murphey family. Didnt get to give her a hug or a kiss. Hed been told to study what you know. He knew, from firsthand experience, that his fellow residents made mistakes, sometimes serious ones. Even the medication override function that Vaught used, Manges says, can have an important function: Nurses need to be able to quickly access medications in an emergency situation when they can't wait for verification from a pharmacist. Kim struggled with both the death of her patient and the loss of a career she loved. For sharps/needlestick injuries, nurses should immediately wash the area with soap and water and "milk" the area to encourage bleeding. "The nurse basically told me, 'Talk to the doctor," Marc Smith said. But as such my hospital does not allow students to touch IV meds without an RN present. A former nurse in Tennessee has been convicted in the accidental death of a patient after she injected her with a paralyzing drug instead of a sedative. Scott decided to try something she thought might help. Didnt get to give her a hug or a kiss. Medicine ran in Kims family, but her daughter Sydney isnt sure if that tradition will continue. Lyn estimates they were gone for about an hour and a half. She was trying to give the patient, Charlene Murphey, a dose of an anti-anxiety medication, midazolam (brand name Versed), before an imaging scan during a December 2017 hospital stay, the report states. Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Health-care workers can reach a peer responder at any hour of any day. They now claim the nurse not only administered the wrong medicine, but also failed to properly monitor Richard Smith. I am starting clinical in the summer and had a morbid curiosity. Uvo Ologboride, the nurse named in the lawsuit, had given Smith pancuronium. Sustaining a needlestick injury or other type of exposure is scary. Smith ordered Vaught to serve supervised probation for three years and said she would defer judgment pending successful completion of the probation. This isn't the kind of thing that's going to be written out in anyone student handbook. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV) The second day of testimony is underway for RaDonda Vaught, a former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse on trial for the death of a patient in her care. Vaught faced up to eight years behind bars. Her remorse during the case was of the attitude, in my opinion as an investigator, that she felt by telling the truth it would all go away, and that she should be rewarded for being honest., And I appreciate honesty. A nursing advocacy group, meanwhile, fears the shocking verdict puts the future of the profession at risk. But what happened next was an unnecessary tragedy, too: Seven months after the error, Kim killed herself. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. And there's collateral damage that can go unnoticed: Every day, doctors and nurses quietly live with those they have wounded or even killed. Vox (March 15, 2016), Copyright 2016 by Vox Media, Inc., vox.com. (Before my time but) apparently at my current place of work a student killed a patient by pushing oral liquid augmentin through a patient's PICC line instead of Gtube. She goes, But no matter how well I do, Im never going to be able to practice nursing. Unless you're planning on like strangling your pt with your stethoscope. ", "The nurse said my dad had coded. It seemed like a natural choice when Kim decided to pursue a nursing degree at Pacific Lutheran University in Seattle. And theres collateral damage that can go unnoticed: Every day, doctors and nurses quietly live with those they have wounded or even killed. For splash exposures involving mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth), irrigate the area well with water. Would they be removed from their cohort? As soon as Cathie Rea, Kims supervisor, read the note, she escorted Kim to her car and told her to leave the campus. They would go through the hospital's procedures of when an accidental death happens. Im sorry that I havent said it to you sooner. U.S. News Nurse Spared Jail After Accidentally Killing Patient 'A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE' RaDonda Vaught has been sentenced to probation over the death of 75-year-old Charlene Murphey,. I calculated the wrong dose and he died. A Tennessee nurse was sentenced to probation on Friday after she was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for mistakenly killing a patient by giving her the wrong medication. I dont know how Id handle being the cause of someones death.. Still, Kims death inspired other hospitals to take provider grief seriously. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. For example, HR departments use nurses to recruit other nurses. In each installment of this daily series, I respond to a composite letter that asks for my career advice. She used to write poetry about her patients, Crum says. Since 1995, at least 1,720 hospital patients have been accidentally killed and 9,584 others injured from the actions or inaction of registered nurses across the country, who have seen their. The next day, July 30, 2010, he complained of an upset stomach, so the doctor prescribed the antacid. The North Shore Medical Center did not respond to inquiries from ABCNews.com prior to the publication of this article. Kim Hiatts mother, Sharon Crum, was a nurse. The actions taken after exposure depend on the type of exposure. Despite legislation for needlestick prevention and safety measures in place, accidents do happen, and nurses need to know what to do in case of an exposure.
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